Ambassador, Scott Dunn, TTG Media: this week’s travel trade people moves

Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) has named the new global managing director of its luxury outfit Scott Dunn. Alison Zacher joins the luxury brand from Flight Centre stablemate Corporate Traveller, where she was global director of operations and sustainability. Zacher brings more than 20 years’ industry experience to her new role with Scott Dunn, which was acquired by FCTG in January 2023. Her appointment comes after it was last month confirmed Scott Dunn chief executive Sonia Davies would be leaving the operator after six-and-a-half years. FCTG said Zacher was a passionate advocate of women in leadership and praised the “instrumental” role she has played in developing many of the other senior leaders within the group.

utc.travel has appointed Steve Allen, Jo Rzymowska and Chris Photi to its advisory board. The travel subscription platform offers members access to holiday products at trade prices. Allen brings decades of experience from leadership roles at dnata, Portman Travel and Tui as well as non-executive director roles at Abta and HarpWallen, helping “B2B and B2C organisations drive business growth and create value”. Rzymowska left a 40-year career in leadership roles across the travel industry to dedicate herself to “coaching and mentoring the next generation of businesses”. Photi, meanwhile, is the longest-standing principal at White Hart Associates and oversees its travel and leisure team.

Ramble Worldwide has appointed Wayne Perks as managing director. He will start his new role on 9 September, leading up a team of more than 50 staff in the operator’s office in the village of Lemsford and report into chair Hilary Watchman. Perks will succeed current managing director Kevin O’Regan who is taking time out to travel after spending 35 years in the industry. Prior to joining Ramble Worldwide, Perks held a range of product and commercial roles at British Airways and Thomas Cook among others.

TTG’s Sophie Griffiths (pictured right) has returned to the position of editor and chief purpose officer following maternity leave, with interim editor Sarah Dennis taking up the newly created head of insight role. “After a fabulous year of learning to be a mum, I’m now excited to be rejoining the fabulous TTG Media team,” Griffiths said. “I’m also incredibly proud to be returning to work for a B Corp Certified company and I’m looking forward to continuing in our efforts to promote sustainability across travel, while also focusing on delivering exclusive and hard-hitting insight reports and analysis.”

Tracey Holmes-Carter has joined African specialist representation firm Travel Promoters as an account manager. Holmes-Carter has held key positions in South Africa and the UK across the supply chain at Tour d’Afrique, Akilanga and African Travel Concept to specialist African tour operator Travel Butlers.